Method of operating an association game

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides a method of operating a game of chance, comprising displaying a plurality of selectable objects divided in a plurality of groups. Each selectable object is associated with a value, an operator or a couple operator/value. A player selection of a selectable object from each group is received. The selected objects are associated. Player selections are received and associated until there is no possible association left. An association value is evaluated for each associations and a prize based on these association values is awarded to the player.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims priority under 35USC§119(e) of U.S.provisional patent application(s) 60/473,025 filed May 27^(th) 2003, thespecification of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] The present invention relates to a game of chance offering anassociation bonus feature.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Gambling has evolved a lot during the last few years, and gamemanufacturers are always searching for new methods to interest andentertain players. Players are always demanding more features and payoutschemes.

[0004] Improvements in these kinds of games .are desired to enhance theplayer's interest and entertainment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] In an embodiment, the present invention provides a method ofoperating a game of chance comprising displaying a plurality ofselectable objects divided in a plurality of groups. Each selectableobject is associated with a value, an operator or a coupleoperator/value. A player selection of a selectable object from eachgroup is received. The selected objects are associated. Playerselections are received and associated until there is no possibleassociation left. An association value is evaluated for eachassociations and a prize based on these association values is awarded tothe player.

[0006] in another embodiment, the present invention provides a gamingapparatus comprising display means to display a plurality of selectableobjects divided in a plurality of groups. Each selectable object isassociated with a value, an operator or a couple value/operator. It alsocomprises input means to receive the player selections of a selectableobject from each group; and controller means to associate the playerselections, to evaluate an association value and to end the game whenthere is no possible association left. The gaming apparatus alsocomprises awarding means to award a prize based on said associations.

[0007] In yet another embodiment, the present invention provides acomputer program embodied on a computer readable medium having codesadapted to display a plurality of selectable objects, each associatedwith a value, an operator or a couple value/operator; to receive playerselections of selectable objects from each group; to associate theplayer selections. The computer program codes repeat the steps ofreceiving a player selection, associating until all there is no possibleassociation left. The computer program codes are also adapted toevaluate an association value for each association and to award a prizebased on these associations.

[0008] In still another embodiment, the present invention provides acomputer program carried on an electrical or electro-magnetic carriersignal having codes adapted to display a plurality of selectableobjects, each associated with a value, an operator or a couplevalue/operator; to receive player selections of selectable objects fromeach group; to associate the player selections. The computer programcodes repeat the steps of receiving a player selection, associatinguntil all there is no possible. association left. The computer programcodes are also adapted to evaluate an association value for eachassociation and to award a prize based on these associations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] Further features and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent from the following detailed description, taken incombination with the appended drawings, in which:

[0010]FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a perspective view of agaming machine suitable for the present invention;

[0011]FIG. 2 is a bloc diagram illustrating the components of the gamingmachine of FIG. 1;

[0012]FIG. 3 is a flow chart of a game process in accordance with thepresent invention;

[0013]FIG. 4 is a screen shot illustrating part of the play of a gameplayed in accordance to a first embodiment of the present invention;

[0014]FIG. 5 is a screen shot illustrating the completed play of thegame of FIG. 3;

[0015]FIG. 6 is a screen shot illustrating an example of a secondembodiment of the present invention; and

[0016]FIG. 7 is a screen shot illustrating an example of a thirdembodiment of the present invention.

[0017] It will be noted that throughout the appended drawings, likefeatures are identified by like reference numerals.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0018] The present invention describes a game offering the player aplurality of groups of selectable objects, each being associated with ahidden value and/or hidden operator. The player selects an object fromeach group, associating them, until there is no possible associationleft, thus all the selectable objects of at least one group has beenselected. A prize is calculated, based on the associations, and awardedto the player.

[0019] The present invention is preferably carried out on a gamingapparatus, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. Said gaming apparatus 10comprises display means 12, such as a video screen, a LCD screen ormechanical reels; credit-receiving means 14 such as a card reader or acoin and/or bill acceptor; input means 16, such as buttons, levers or atouch screen; awarding means 18, such as a ticket printer, a card readeror a hopper; memory means 20 and a game controller means 22.

[0020] More precisely, the present invention provides a gaming apparatus10 comprising display means 12 to display a plurality of selectableobjects divided in a plurality of groups. Each selectable object isassociated with a value, an operator or a couple value/operator. It alsocomprises input means 16 to receive the player selections of aselectable object from each group; and controller means 22 to associatethe player selections, to evaluate an association value and to end thegame when there is no possible association left. The gaming apparatusalso comprises awarding means 18 to award a prize based on saidassociations.

[0021] The invention may also be applied in a computer program, or at aremote terminal, the game information (not shown) being distributed viaa network, such as linked machines or the Internet, or broadcasted usingan electrical or electromagnetic signal.

[0022]FIG. 3 explains the process of the present invention. A pluralityof selectable objects, associated with a hidden value, a hidden operatoror a hidden couple value/operator, is divided in groups and displayed30. Player select-ions of a selectable object from each group arereceived 32. The game associates the selected objects 34 and evaluatesfor this association an association value 36. It is then determinedwhether or not at least another association is possible considering theremaining selectable objects in each group 38. If it is possible to makemore associations, new player selections are received 32. If allselectable objects from at least one group have all been selected, aprize is awarded, based on the association values 40.

[0023] In a first preferred embodiment, an example of which isillustrated in FIG. 4, the player is offered two (2) groups ofselectable objects; the selectable objects of the first group 50 areassociated with values varying from two (2) to twenty-five (25), whilethe selectable objects of the second group 52 are associated with pairscomposed of an operator and a value varying from two (2) to five (5).The player selects a selectable object from the first group 54 and aselectable object from the second group 56, and these selections areassociated to form a mathematical operation 58. The first playerselections result in an association value of ten credits (5 from thefirst group and X2 from the second group, which forms the mathematicaloperation 5×2=10). FIG. 5 illustrates the completed game. Since all thepossible associations are used up, and all the mathematical operationsare formed, a prize of ninety (90) credits 60 is evaluated by adding theresults of all the association mathematical operations 62(10+0+50+30=90).

[0024] In a second preferred embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, the playeris offered three groups: the selectable objects of the first 70 andthird 74 groups are associated with values, while the selectable objectsof the second group 72 is associated with operators. The playerassociates selectable objects from each group to form mathematicaloperations 76. When all possible associations are used up (when all theselectable objects of at least one group have been selected), a prize 78corresponding to the highest operation result 80 is awarded to theplayer.

[0025] A third preferred embodiment describes a game wherein theselectable objects of a group are not all associated with values oroperators, but may be sometimes associated with values and sometimeswith operators, as illustrated in FIG. 7. In this example, theselectable objects of the first 90 and third 94 groups are allassociated with values, while the selectable objects of the secondgroups 92 may be associated with operators 96 or values and operators98. The player associates selectable objects from each group to formmathematical operations 102. When all possible associations are used up(when all the selectable objects of at least one group have beenselected), a prize 100, corresponding to the sum of all the operationresults, is awarded.

[0026] While illustrated in the block diagrams as groups of discretecomponents communicating with each other via distinct data signalconnections, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that thepreferred embodiments are provided by a combination of hardware andsoftware components, with some components being implemented by a givenfunction or operation of a hardware or software system, and many of thedata paths illustrated being implemented by data communication within acomputer application or operating system. The structure illustrated isthus provided for efficiency of teaching the present preferredembodiment.

[0027] It should be noted that the present invention can be carried outas a method, can be embodied in a system, a computer readable medium oran electrical or electro-magnetic signal.

[0028] The embodiments of the invention described above are intended tobe exemplary only. The scope of the invention is therefore intended tobe limited solely by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:
 1. A method of operating a game of chance comprising the stepsof: displaying a plurality of selectable objects divided in a pluralityof groups, each selectable object being associated with at least one of(a) a hidden value, and (b) a hidden operator; receiving playerselections of a selectable object from each group; associating theselectable objects selected by the player; repeating the steps ofreceiving player selections, and associating, until there is no possibleassociation left; and evaluating an association value for eachassociation; awarding a prize based on said association values.
 2. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the step of evaluating an association valuecomprises calculating a logical or mathematical operation resultaccording to said player selections.
 3. The method of claim 1, whereinthe step of awarding a prize comprises awarding a prize corresponding tothe highest association value.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein thestep of awarding a prize comprises awarding a prize corresponding to thesum of said association values.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein thesteps of displaying a plurality of selectable objects comprisesassociating all said selectable objects of a group with either (a)values, (b) operators or (c) values and operators.
 6. A gaming apparatuscomprising; a display means to display a plurality of selectable objectsdivided in a plurality of groups, each selectable object beingassociated with one of (a) a hidden value, (b) a hidden operator and (c)a hidden value and a hidden operator; control means to receive playerselections of a selectable object from each group; controller means toassociate the player selections, to evaluate a value for saidassociation and to end the game when there is no possible associationleft; awarding means to award a prize based on said association values.7. A computer program embodied on a computer readable medium havingcodes adapted to: display a plurality of selectable objects divided in aplurality of groups, each selectable object being associated with one of(a) a hidden value, (b) a hidden operator and (c) a hidden value and ahidden operator; receive player selections of a selectable object fromeach group; associate the player selections; repeat the steps ofreceiving a player selection, associating, until there is no possibleassociation left; evaluate an association value for each association;and award a prize based on said association values.
 8. A computerprogram carried on an electrical or electromagnetic signal having codesadapted to: display a plurality of selectable objects divided in aplurality of groups, each selectable object being associated with one of(a) a hidden value, (b) a hidden operator and (c) a hidden value and ahidden operator; receive player selections of a selectable object fromeach group; associate the player selections; repeat the steps ofreceiving a player selection, associating, until there is no possibleassociation left; evaluate an association value for each association;and award a prize based on said association values.